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WTM 2018: Vietnam ‘must consider over-tourism’ as visitor numbers soar

Vietnam must consider the effects of over-tourism as it adjusts to becoming one of the fastest growing destinations in the world, it has been claimed.

In 2015, more than eight million people visited Vietnam, but in three years that figure rose to 13m.

In the first six months of 2018, Vietnam has welcomed 11.6m people – a 22% spike year-on-year during the same period last year.

Asked how Vietnam was combating the negative effects of tourism, Ngoc Duc Dinh, from Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said: “[Over-tourism] is something that we must consider. We work with domestic agencies to ensure that we do develop too fast. We need to be responsible.

“We receive government funding for projects to ensure that we cope with tourism in a responsible way.”

Vietnam Tourism’s Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong said the organisation was developing products for tourists which would encourage them to stay in the country longer.

Vietnam Airlines’ Dinh Sy Nhat Quang revealed the carrier was flying 110,000 flights each year, generating a £90m in 2018 – 4% up year-on-year.

He said: “We focus on the service quality so that we can meet the requirements of the customers.”

The airline will phase out its two A330 aircraft over the next 12 months because they are “old fashioned”, he said.

Vietnam Airlines currently has 98 aircraft in its fleet.

Tabitha Kristen Ramsay, chief sales & marketing officer at Vinpearl Joint Stock Company, recently helped launch a new website – vietnam.travel – for the tourism board in the country.

She said the country was one of the fastest growing countries in the world.

She said this website overhaul was to ensure travellers had “the chance to see and understand more about the country”.

The Travel Weekly team is reporting extensively from this year’s World Travel Market, stay up to date on our live blog and event microsite

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